Rich Man and Lazarus

Rich Man and Lazarus – a sobering yet deeply moving Emotional Vocal Gospel Blues Worship reflection on Luke 16:19–31. This powerful parable comes alive through raw, heartfelt vocals and gritty Delta blues guitar, telling the story of two men — one who lived in luxury and ignored the suffering at his gate, and the poor man who found eternal comfort in Abraham’s bosom. Jesus’ warning about choices, compassion, and the reality of eternity echoes with soul-stirring emotion in this blues rendition.

Scripture: Luke 16:19–31

¹⁹“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. ²⁰At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores ²¹and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. ²⁴So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

²⁵“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. ²⁶And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

²⁷“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, ²⁸for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

³⁰“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

³¹“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Lyrics

Verse 1
There was a rich man livin’ fine, dressed in purple every day,
Yeah, a rich man livin’ fine, dressed in purple every day,
Feastin’ while the world kept turnin’, never looked the other way.

Verse 2
Poor Lazarus at his gate, layin’ hungry in the dust,
Mm, Lazarus at his gate, layin’ hungry in the dust,
Wounds on his body, dogs lickin’ him ‘cause mercy’s all he trust.

Verse 3
Rich man’s table overflowed, crumbs fallin’ to the floor,
Yeah, his table overflowed, crumbs fallin’ to the floor,
But he stepped right past that beggar like he never saw him before.

Refrain
This world keeps on turnin’, hearts can still be blind,
Yeah, this world keeps on turnin’, hearts can still be blind,
What you do with what you’re given gonna follow you in time.

Verse 4
Then one day death came callin’, like it does for me and you,
Yeah, death came callin’, like it does for me and you,
Lazarus was carried upward, rich man didn’t know what to do.

Verse 5
Lazarus in Abraham’s arms, restin’ easy, free at last,
Mm, restin’ easy, free at last,
Rich man cried from the fire sayin’, “Lord, I’m burnin’ for my past.”

Verse 6
He said, “Father Abraham, won’t you send him down with some relief?”
Yeah, “Send him down with some relief,”
But the answer came back steady: “Son, there’s no crossin’ underneath.”

Refrain
There’s a line you can’t step over, once your time is gone,
Yeah, a line you can’t step over, once your time is gone,
Every seed you plant in mercy—or neglect—gets drawn.

Verse 7
Rich man said, “Please warn my brothers, tell ‘em change their way,”
Mm, “Tell ‘em change their way,”
Abraham said, “They got the Word—if they won’t hear it, they won’t stay.”

Verse 8
“If they won’t hear Moses, if they won’t hear the truth,”
Yeah, if they won’t hear the truth,
They won’t listen to a miracle, not even risen proof.

Final Refrain / Outro
So love your neighbor while you breathe, while your hands still can give,
Yeah, love your neighbor while you breathe, while your hands still can give,
‘Cause the way you treat the least of these
Is the way you learn to live.

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